Chalmette artist Tia Williams recently shared her talent with a local restaurant, creating dining masterpieces of the tables at The Blue Porch. Along with a rustic decor, the themed tables give the restaurant a local flare.

“The owners, Carol Benenate and Scott Savoie, wanted us to add our personal touch to the place,” Williams said. “They had these tables that they wanted to paint. Some of my ideas came from Pinterest, along with local themes. I added my own technique and spin to them.”

The owners moved from the Plantation Bar and Grill location to open the Blue Porch, previously home to the local bakery, Flour Power Confectionary. They wanted to keep some of the original rustic look of the building.

Williams’ usual medium is graphite drawings, but she decided to experiment with acrylic paints, something she had only worked with a few times. “I surprised myself. I have never really fooled with acrylic much. I have discovered a hidden talent, and now I want to do more projects using it,” she said.

Williams’ first table was a St. Bernard Parish theme with a large magnolia as the center, along with iconic symbols such as the Chalmette Battlefield Monument, shrimp boots and a boiling pot.

And what good would themed tables be without our beloved teams?

“I painted a Saints and a LSU table along with the classic New Orleans Water Meter, and some tables with inspirational sayings,” Williams said. This project has inspired Williams to do more acrylic painting.

The tables have been a hit with the patrons. “I have been asked to paint murals, and the local iron-work artisthas asked me to work with him,” she said.

As with many artists, musicians, and athletes, the love of drawing started when Williams was a young girl. She enjoyed drawing, and sculpting with clay. However, her passion for drawing really blossomed at Chalmette High School when her art teacher encouraged and pushed Williams.

Williams worked mostly with graphite, and won several competitions her junior and senior year in this medium. “I won the Cox Communications Black History Month Contest twice, and created shirt designs for Chalmette High.”

She also painted an ornament for the governor’s mansion to represent the parish, and created a graphite drawing of a school board member’s childhood home.

Williams’ competition pieces were mostly graphite drawings. “My favorite was one of the Black History Month pieces. It was a collage of the Civil Rights Movement. It was called “Don’t Let Them See You Cry.” It was everyone’s favorite,” she said.

Pablo Picasso said, “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” Williams plans to continue her artistic pursuits in one form or another. “My friends want me to be a tattoo artist, but I don’t know yet. After settling in here, I will decide what to do next.”